Audrey Lucille Armstrong

Audrey Lucille “Lou” Armstrong passed away quietly and peacefully on May 8, 2026, in Gardnerville, Nevada, at the age of 97. She was born on March 2, 1929, in Wynona, Oklahoma, to Henry Lee and Dulcena Mae Rubison.

Lou came from humble beginnings and a family bound tightly by love and resilience. After losing her mother at just ten years old, she was raised alongside her sisters Vesta Mae and Tressa Bee, and her brothers Elmer Lee and Estel “Jack.” She outlived all of her siblings, carrying their memories with her throughout her long life.

Family was the heartbeat of Lou’s world. She stayed close to her nieces and nephews — Vivian Carol, Belva Jean, and Orse Don — and held deep affection for their families. Vivian and her husband Lanny Ingalls, along with their children Lana and Buddy, remained a constant presence. Belva Jean and Jack McWhirt’s children, Debbie Kay and Lonnie Ray, and Orse Don’s children, Don Richard and Renee, were always in her thoughts. No matter where life took her — Oklahoma, Wichita, Okinawa, San Antonio, San Francisco, Newark, Arnold, Albuquerque, or Gardnerville — Lou carried her family with her. Whether you were related by blood, marriage, or simply by love, she made room for you in her heart.

Lou was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Armstrong. Together they raised five children and helped raise their grandchildren and great‑grandchildren, creating a legacy of love that spans generations.

She is survived by:

Son Gary and daughter‑in‑law Julie, grandson Todd and granddaughter Dana, great‑grandchildren James and Elizabeth Armstrong, and Julie’s extended family in Albuquerque who welcomed Lou as their own.

Daughter Diana Wentworth, grandson William and granddaughter Michelle, great‑grandchildren Troy; and Will (who preceded her in death) Wentworth; grandson Kenneth and granddaughter Ashley, great‑grandchildren Kaine and Piper Wentworth; grandson Kevin and granddaughter Asheeta, great‑grandchildren Lukas and a baby girl arriving this fall.

Daughter Susan Field (preceded her in death) and son‑in‑law Donald Field, granddaughter Jennelle Keith and grandson William Keith, great‑grandchildren Willie, Juliahnna, and Lucille “Lucy” Keith.

Son Robert and daughter‑in‑law Andrea, and her cherished grand‑dog, Maggie.

Daughter Sharon Armstrong, grandson Jeremy and granddaughter Sasha, great‑grandchildren Brysin, Bryant, Brooks, and Buffy Armstrong.

Across her 97 years, Lou lived with love, forgiveness, and grace. She taught life lessons without ever needing to raise her voice. She fed everyone who walked through her door and passed down cooking and canning secrets that will be treasured for generations. Her presence was steady, comforting, and full of quiet wisdom.

Before she passed, Lou shared one final message for her family: “Tell everyone I love them, and I’ll see them soon.”

Her absence will be felt deeply, but her love will continue to ripple through every life she touched.

Lou will be inurned in Murphys, California at a later date in a private family gathering.

Poetic Tribute

She lived like a warm light in the doorway, soft as a quilt, steady as morning bread rising. Her hands taught love in the language of kitchens, her heart taught forgiveness without ever speaking its name.

She carried generations in her arms, and generations will carry her in their stories.

May her memory be a gentle place to rest, and may her love keep shining in all of us — a quiet, everlasting flame.